Friday, May 17, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Inception by Teal Haviland



The world is in danger. Mankind is sinking deeper into darkness it cannot understand
Demons are easily capturing souls as they lead men and women down dangerous paths from which there is no return, while Javan, one of the Fallen, seeks an ancient book and the power it promises. If he succeeds, humans — and the world as they know it — will be destroyed.
There is someone who is capable of stopping Javan...
If she discovers him in time.
Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created, her job one of the most important. She has come to Earth to learn more about humans and what influences them, and to fight evil she sees growing at an alarming rate. She soon finds herself carelessly distracted with one human in particular, however. Lucas Watkins holds a promise of peace and love for Gabrielle that she never believed she could have again.
Caught between her new mortal ties and ancient immortal responsibilities, Gabrielle must race against what seems to be an ever-quickening clock to learn what she needs to know, uncover Javan’s plan, and find a way to stop him and all who live in Shadows.
Join Gabrielle and her allies in a story of love — past and present — fantastical beings, hidden realms, magic, fate, loss, and the fight of good versus evil in, The Reaping Chronicles.

The demon who had acted as the leader released a deep, throaty growl. "Don't get too happy yet, little angel. We aren't done here. Not by a long shot."
                Gabrielle's smile faded as she suddenly felt the urge to be done with this, compelling her to make quicker work of her opponents than she had intended. Partially because she didn't want Phalen to be in even more awe of her, to have her then add to the tales of Gabrielle's might—there was enough story telling going on already—but, more than that, she wanted to get the I told you so from Amaziah out of the way.
                "Demon," Gabrielle said with an edge seeping into her tone, "I am most certainly done here. Playtime is over."
                Gabrielle did no more than raise her hands. A golden bow appeared in one hand, and three arrows tipped with crackling, white Holy Fire manifested in the other. With a swift motion, she pulled the arrows back as if they were one and let them loose. The targets fell to their knees before they took two steps. Matching expressions that held both pain and surprise gazed back at her. The Fallen slowly began to burn from within, consumed by the fires of Hell they would now never leave.
                The only demon who'd spoken maintained his targeted glare at Gabrielle. "Bitch!"
                Then his form succumbed to the death that came for him, turning him into nothing more than ember and ash.
                "For you," Gabrielle said in no more than a whisper to the space where he once stood, "I was The Reaper."
                Phalen stepped forward and looked at Gabrielle. "So . . . how many arrows can you use on different targets at once, anyway?"
                Gabrielle looked at Phalen. She'd tried not to inspire what was behind the look in Phalen's eyes as her friend waited for an answer to her question. Gabrielle just smiled and quickly looked away, focusing back on the area around her.
                Satisfied that the lingering stench and ash was the only remaining evidence of her fallen brethren and their conflict, knowing the storm would unleash rain upon the landscape—joining the ash with sand—Gabrielle turned and responded to Phalen's question.
                "It doesn't matter. Let's go"
                "Sure. Why does Yahuwah allow the Fallen to still use His weapons?"
                "Amaziah told me it's some deal He made with Ramai. To keep things as equal as possible with the war." Gabrielle considered the deal Yahuwah had made before continuing. "This war is more about humans than us. He wants humanity to win it for themselves by making the right choices on their own, not through his own power or ours. It would be very easy for us to wipe out the entire population of demons if they had no defense."
                "Hmm . . ." Phalen said. "Hey . . . do you know what he was talking about when he said he thought you were trying to find a book?"
                "No, but I need to. Maybe Amaziah knows."
                "So," Phalen began, her playful tone lightening the mood slightly, "that demon was pretty sure of himself, asking you to dance. What would you do if the Devil asked you?"
                Gabrielle smirked. "If the Devil asked me to dance, I'd tell him he couldn't handle me."
                As they returned to their human forms, Gabrielle glanced back to make sure everything looked as it had before the fight began. Satisfied, she descended into her temporary body. Together, they continued walking away from the crowd until they found sufficient cover to ascend.
                What Gabrielle couldn't have noticed on the island was a flock of crows hidden behind a veil of their own. They had observed the battle as it unfolded and ended—and listened closely to the angels' conversation after it was over. As Gabrielle and Phalen resumed their stroll, the flock took flight—disappearing into the heavy black clouds closing in on the coastline. A flash of lightning lit the dismal horizon as the last crow was enveloped in the storm's roiling shadows—as if it was embracing a lost love. 

 Teal Haviland lives in Tennessee with her daughter and her four-legged friends. She enjoys photography, travel, reading, music, cooking, daydreaming, writing (of course), and above all spending time with her family and friends.
Teal grew up with a love for anything fantastical or outrageous. After years of dreaming of worlds where fairies, angels, demons, and shape shifters (to name a few) exist, she finally decided to begin writing her stories down. Inception, book one in her series The Reaping Chronicles, is her first published novel.



*sighs* I am not even sure where or how to begin this review...I am still so wrapped up in Inception that I hope I can clearly explain the amount of LOVE I have for this book.
I guess I can start with what drew me in in the first place....the cover.  I remember seeing it and thinking how beautiful the combination of colors were and the alluring figure tying it all together.  I knew from that first moment that I had to read this amazing tale.
So, the minute Inception landed in my lap, all I could think about was starting it. With finishing up the book I was reading, I immediately opened up Inception and began my journey in to this stimulating, compelling, exciting, and unique world.
I was instantly hooked, eating up all the details of the world building in this 550 page book.  And yes, I said 550 pages.  I was a little taken aback when I saw that...but it was so necessary in gaining an understanding of the events that have and will transpire throughout this story.
A tale that revolves around the oldest of battles of good versus evil, we are introduced to Gabrielle;  one of the highest ranking angels in heaven, charged with such a taxing duty bestowed upon an angel.  But she takes her duty serious and wants to be able to jump in and really help on the front lines of the looming battle that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Now that Gabrielle is back on Earth and racing against the clock, she is really having to adjust and learn about humans and their behaviors pretty quickly. That is when she meets Lucas.  The human that changes EVERYTHING for her. 
There is sooooo much that I want to tell you...but I don't and won't give spoilers.  
So, let me say....Inception is a book that you just can't forget.  Even after I finished it days ago, I still feel like I am in the book.  Teal Haviland constructed an extraordinary fantastical world that immerses you in to a turmoil that rips at your soul.  It is written so eloquently, that the words on the page become more....I could feel what was written.  Several times Gabrielle mentions feeling the warm sun on her face and how that made her feel closer to home.  Obviously I cannot write it where you can FEEEEEL it, but in the majestic talent of Teal's writing, you are standing there with Gabrielle, looking up, closing your eyes and feeling that warmth too.  I love books that lure you in, causing you to completely let go and occupy your every thought.  
And not only is Inception brilliantly written, the well-developed characters engage us on a twisted, action-packed adventure filled with surprises, fears, doubts, and a romance that will take your breath away.  And don't try and guess how the book will end.  Regardless of prophecies and visions foretelling the future, I was utterly shocked at the events that transpired in the last 20% of the book.  
My mouth fell open....I just couldn't believe what I was reading...BUT, this is what makes an outstanding book.  Drawing you in, feeling the emotions, being a part of the story, and keeping you on your toes...UNTIL...THE...VERY....END!!!!
I can say without a doubt that Inception is one of my top reads of 2013.  With the mixture of the fantastical world...i.e shifters, vampires, fae, demons, fallen angels, and of course angels...it is a non-stop, edge of your seat thrill ride that you just don't want to end.  




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